With the Sunfoil Series starting today, Stuart Hess highlights one player from each of the six franchises to keep a close eye on this season ...
Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras
Keegan Petersen (21)
He put up some hefty numbers in the semi-professional provincial competition last season and has subsequently been drafted into the franchise squad. He scored 965 runs at an average of 48.25, going past 100 four times and turning one of those into a double-century. The right-hander rose through the youth ranks at Boland and the next big step is to break into a Cobras side that has dominated the four-day competition in the last five years. He’s described by coaches as “calm” and with an “unbelievable” appetite for runs.
Sunfoil Dolphins
Khaya Zondo (24)
Two centuries in the second half of last season’s competition helped propel Zondo from relative obscurity into the SA A side that toured Australia in the winter. A gutsy right-hander, he grabbed the opportunities offered by coach Lance Klusener to make a statement, finishing the Sunfoil Series with an aggregate of 541 runs. And though it’s a completely different format, his half-century in the Champions League T20 last week against Perth suggests his temperament has improved which is good news.
Chevrolet Knights
Corné Dry (21)
A young, aggressive medium fast bowler who caught the eye last season and whose progress will be closely monitored this summer. Well capable of producing an unplayable spell, it’s what he does in the second and third spells which need improvement. However he is still young and learning his craft, so hopefully the time spent under Vincent Barnes’ watch with the South African A side in Australia will prove beneficial this season. Picked up 20 wickets in the competition in 2013/14 at an average of 26.85.
Unlimited Titans
Marchant de Lange (23)
Will this be the second coming of the quick? The Steyn/Morkel/Philander axis won’t be around forever, and De Lange is among a crop of young quicks upon whose shoulders the future rests. Impressed everyone in Australia in the winter, bowling with plenty of gas. His action has been tinkered with so as to relieve the strain on his back, but thankfully, neither those changes, nor the shedding of a few kgs has impacted his pace. Instead it’s improved his stamina and should see him get through a couple of spells a day.
Chevrolet Warriors
Thandolwethu Mnyaka (21)
Another of the ‘newbies’ seeking to make an impression at a franchise that struggled last season. Played just one match for the franchise last season picking up three wickets against the Titans in Centurion. Picked up 24 wickets for Border last season, but one of the features of his performances was the number of overs he got through – 182 in nine matches – suggesting a workhorse who might prove a useful asset to the Warriors’ new captain Colin Ingram, on what many anticipate will be flat tracks.
Bizhub Highveld Lions
Dominic Hendricks (23)
Although he played seven out of the 10 matches in last season’s competition, there was a sense that Hendricks was merely a stop-gap – he opened and kept wicket at times too. This season it seems his spot is more defined. “We will look to use him in the middle order,” said Geoffery Toyana. “He’s worked hard at the (national) Academy in the off-season, and his technique looks a lot better.” Hendricks is part of a trio of batsmen the Lions will be relying on heavily this season along with Temba Bavuma and Devon Conway. - The Star